Their official answer is: “removing someone from the Tube network is always a last resort”. Yes, that’s right, removing criminal fare dodgers from TfL property is officially always a last resort. As a recent response to a question to the Mayor from the Reform group at City Hall revealed: “Officers follow a structured approach that prioritises de-escalation, using TfL’s five-step appeal process (simple, reasoned, personal, final, action) and the four-step engagement model (engage, educate, encourage, enforce) before taking enforcement action.” I don’t know whether the pen pushers who designed this policy have travelled by Tube recently, but the opportunity to “engage, educate and encourage” fare dodgers is limited at best. They generally display a lightness of foot matched only by Speedy Gonzales.
